Men of the Manor: Erotic Encounters between Upstairs Lords and Downstairs Lads, edited by Rob Rosen

Despite the freezing cold outside, or well freezing cold by my native Georgia standards, the pages of this book have left me warm and toasty. In fact, I do believe I feel a fine sheen of sweat forming pretty much all over my body. This book is full of stories, with the playful banter between the privileged and the not (although they all look the same in my mind’s eye when the pants drop) making perfect foreplay for when the scenes get spicy enough to fog the windows on the front row from the action all the way back in the pre World War I England seats. Whew! I think I’ll need a break before I try to read this one again.

While on respite from the heat, I found the editor Rob Rosen. (Easy enough to do. I’m a big fan and stalk him on Facebook.) He was a total sweetheart in answering my favorite round of questions:

1. Where did you find the inspiration for Men of the Manor?

That’s an easy one: Downtown Abbey. The idea is similar, but, unlike the TV show, there’s enough sex in this collection to make the town vicar blush. See, Men of the Manor is an erotic new take on the D.A. theme: the sordid lives of the haves and the have-nots, and what can happen when the two classes find themselves beneath the sheets. The collected stories detail the romance and sex between wealthy aristocrats and hard-working estate staff, all with a pre-World War 1 backdrop, including the fashion and art and the latest inventions of the day. War is years way, the estates are huge and sprawling, the fashionably elite have too much time on their hands, while the toiling underclass are always on the lookout for a means to a brighter future — no matter whose bed they end up in during the night.

2. If you could make out with any pop culture icon, in modern or yesterday, who would it be and where?

My husband won’t like this, so please don’t tell him, but Anderson Cooper is way too dreamy to pass up on. Plus, I’d be one degree of separation away from pretty much every famous living person on the planet. So kissing Anderson would be like kissing everyone! It’s a heady thought.

(Oops! I thought all married people were given that one celebrity “if we ever cross paths” get-out-of-jail-free card, but then again, I’ve never been married. Your secret is safe with me. 😛 )

3. What can you fans expect next from you?

My next anthology, Best Gay Erotica 2015, is due out on 01/13/15. This is the 20th installment of this esteemed and steamy collection. Then my 8th novel, Creature Comfort, will be released on 02/12/15. My 9th novel, Fate, will be out in early 2016. And, yes, I plan that far ahead.

Excerpt:Seducing The Footman
by Brent Archer

John laughed. “Seems an easy one to me then. Tell your father you’re not going to marry her.”

Trenton’s eyes widened. “Telling my father no is like telling King Edward you’d rather not come to Court — it just isn’t done.”

John sat back. “I’ve heard that Scotland is lovely this time of year.”

Trenton arched his eyebrow. “And where did you hear that?”

“A handsome young Scot told me at school. Actually, he taught me many things that year.”

Trenton leaned toward him. “Such as?”

“Such as this.” John reached out his hands to grasp Trenton’s hair and crushed their lips together like a pirate plundering a merchant ship.

Trenton tried to push away, grabbing John’s wrists, but quickly dropped his hands and yielded to the desire the young man awakened in him. His kiss was a flame stoking the fire of his lust.

John broke the kiss, and Trenton locked eyes with the seductive man yet again. “This is what you want, isn’t it?”

Trenton could barely manage a whisper. “Yes.”

John stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go upstairs.” John led him into the small entryway and up the stone steps to the second floor. Three bedroom doors greeted them.

Trenton took the lead and pulled John into the first one. He closed the door and turned just in time to receive another scorching kiss. Any thoughts of dominance faded as John pulled at his clothes. Trousers, garters, shirt, stockings, tie. All fell to the floor as he was quickly stripped to his undergarments.

John pushed him onto the bed and stood before him. He turned away and bent over to pick up Trenton’s clothes, pushing out his round ass in his neatly pressed black pants. He looked over his shoulder at Trenton. “Is this to your liking, sir?”

Trenton’s throat went dry, nerves suddenly surfacing as his underling seduced him. He’d never been so aroused in his entire life.

“Yes,” he gasped.

John rose and placed the clothes onto the dresser next to the bed. He faced Trenton and carefully removed and folded his own attire. Each revelation of perfect pale flesh left his master panting, his cock swelling and pushing against his undershorts. The thrill of anticipation threatened to drive him mad as the footman stayed just out of reach on the pretext of being neat.

Finally, the seductive servant stood before the bed naked with his hands on his hips. Trenton drank in his beautiful body. His clean-shaven face was still boyish, framed in curly dark hair. Green eyes stalked him as they looked across a button nose, his pouty lips forming into a grin. His torso was devoid of hair with the exception of two dark wisps around his nipples and a thatch under each arm. A thin line of hair led from his naval to a patch of dense swirling curls framing a thick manhood and heavy balls. His legs were covered in hair, leading down to sturdy feet.

Trenton reclined on the bed and spread his legs. “You’re very much to my liking.”

John padded forward with stealth, like the moves of a lion about to pounce. “Do you know what you want?” His eyes were mesmerizing. Trenton’s gaze locked onto those green eyes.

Yes. In this moment of seduction, clarity dawned bright and blazing. He knew what he wanted. “You.”

“Then you shall have me.” John leapt onto the bed, pinning Trenton’s arms above his head with one hand and tearing at the remaining fabric covering his body with the other. “You’ll get exactly what you want.”

John’s mouth ravaged Trenton’s lips before moving down to his neck. The man beneath gasped, trying to free his hands as his body was lost in a wave of passion. His fingers longed to touch John’s flesh, but were denied, increasing his desire all the more. John continued his journey, exploring every peak and valley of the nobleman’s form. His tongue darted into the thick patch of blond hair under Trenton’s arms, the master thrashing from side to side as class distinction and reason fell away; only blinding lust remained.

Trenton’s cock strained as each lick and nip at his flesh sent fire through his body. As John sucked on a nipple, he gasped. “Good lord, what are you doing to me?”

John released the nub from between his lips. “Pleasuring you like a Scot without the burden of marriage.” He resumed his ravaging.